Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Insights from the MAPP Research Network. Clemens JQ, Mullins C, Ackerman AL, et al. Nature Review Urology. 16(3): 187-200, 2019 03.
This is an outstanding overview and review of the NIH-sponsored multidisciplinary approach to the study of chronic pelvic pain (MAPP) Research Network. This MAPP Research Network was established by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to study the etiology and natural history of urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome. This article in Nature Reviews Urology provides a wonderful overview of the initial efforts of this multi-institutional and multidisciplinary research program. I highly recommend this review for anyone interested in a better understanding of the research that goes into delineating chronic pelvic pain syndrome. In brief summary, the Network has established a large longitudinal database that has enabled the identification of subsets of patients with specific phenotypic profiles. The Network has also provided context and depth as to how this disease varies in men and women and how the disease can vary over time. In addition, they have begun to establish psychosocial factors associated with CPPS as well as potential new molecular biomarkers of the disease.